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Stay Tuned Here for Upcoming Shows: *To download video of the band's TV appearance on the Bruce Latimer Show, Click here *To listen to some of Alex's recent radio interviews & on-air performances, Click here *To see a list of radio stations that are currently playing Front Porch, Click here *Front Porch reviews:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Splendid Magazine (June, 2003): Front Porch, Once in a while you come across an album that displays intriguing warmth, but doesn't immediately grab your attention. It's only during subsequent listens that the disc clicks, and you question how you possibly missed this rich musical tapestry woven of subtle charm and natural grooves. Alex Wise's solo debut is a perfect example -- it did nothing for me the first time through, but has captivated me more with every subsequent listen. Wise weaves an organic mixture of JJ Cale influences and rustic New Orleans embellishments, and refers to his music as swamp gumbo blues. Maintaining a comfortably relaxed, bluesy vibe, Front Porch creates just the sort of welcoming ambiance its title suggests. Wise champions the traditions of the slightly misunderstood and underappreciated folk singer/songwriter. The instrumentation is basic in a very pastoral sense, persistently conveying a cozy, relaxed vibe; Wise focuses on guitar and dobro, while his band supplies keen touches of mandolin, didgeridoo, percussion and flourishing traces of harmonica. The blues foundations are obvious, especially on the peaceful stomp of "Muddlin'", but Wise consistently elevates his songs far beyond rudimentary blues with the emotion and power of his vocals and his slightly obtuse lyrics. His rough but soothing vocals flow effortlessly within the organic confines of his compositions and in turn perfectly ground the songs. Wise's vocal range may be slight, but it is unwavering. He throws in a bit of country twang and a mellow Rolling Stones swagger on the outstanding "Tin Horses", which plays on its influences borrowing a musical hook and a lyrical allusion from the Stones' "Wild Horses": "Gone astray, Tin Horses / They're always gone astray." "Nether Worlds" is Wise's nod to the acoustic ramblings and nuances of Led Zeppelin's III; there's even a bit of storied, ethereal Middle Earth feel here, accentuated by his silky smooth finger picking. Throughout Front Porch, a captivating rusticity conjures the Grateful Dead's folksy side and JJ Cale's soulful white boy blues. The lucky few who give Front Porch an open ear, and perhaps a second or third listen, will be rewarded with one of the best "sleeper" albums of 2003. Mark my words -- Front Porch will stand the test of time. Performer Magazine (July, 2003): Front Porch, Alex Wise's new CD featuring mostly acoustic instrumentation, is like your favorite pair of blue jeans: comfortable, easy, relaxed. Imagine a guy with a guitar sitting on a bungalow's front porch on a sunbaked Southern day picking amiable rhythmic melodies, and you'll have Wise's album in your head. A soft Southern rock influence seems to carry most of the album, with straightforward composition and appealing use of harmonica, mandolin, and organ behind the guitar. Some of Wise's songs, like "Nether Worlds," "Tin Horses," and "Love In Mind" are melancholy tunes that make you think of rain-streaked windows on lonely nights. Wise's voice, distantly recalling the flat, deep timbre of Randy Travis without the nasal whine, occasionally seems lethargic on oft-repeated refrains that lack variation, as in "Come What May." Generally, though, Wise's vocals work nicely with the sleepyhead pensiveness of the slower tracks. Where Wise really shines is in the more upbeat songs, like "Muddlin'," which has a good swampy beat, and the coming-home sound of "That Time of Year." Alex Wise
plays and sings good music, just the sort to settle down with on a lazy
Sunday afternoon in your favorite blue jeans, on the front porch. Dallas
Star-Telegram (Fri, May 9, 2003): "Alex
Wise, Front Porch, independent recording, no label: Alex who? Hailing
from San Francisco, vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Wise is going for national
exposure on this, his first studio solo CD of all-original material. The
first track, That Time of Year, sounds like we're in for a CD of pleasant-but-unexceptional
blues-flecked folk, but Porch is actually more diverse than that;
the songs (which sometimes have a quality of acoustic Grateful Dead, but
in a good way) improve with repeated listenings, and the more overt blues
and jazz touches here and there add depth. Fans of up-and-coming singer/songwriters
should check Wise out. See www.alexwise.com for more info."
Design © Laura Page Designs 2003 www.laurapage.com :: All music & photography © Alex Wise 2003 www.alexwise.com
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